Process of purifying polluted water, sewage, and the like by a chemobiological-mechanical process



Oct 29 192.9. E. F. HARRISON v 1,734,011

' PROCESS 0F PURIFYING POLLUTED WATER, SEWGE,' AND THE LIKE BY ACHEMO-BIOLOGIGAL-MECHNICALVPROCESS Filed Feb. 25. 192e W/T/vsss: f IIAIWI-Irv'l'of?V ATTORN E 1fY Patented Ont.'V 29, 1929 UNITED STATESPATENT oFFlcl-z- EDWARD r. maison, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,AssIGNoP. 'ro ezmlm MECHANICAL 'WATER IMPROVEMENT CODANY, INC.; OFPHIIAIDELPEIA, PEHN` i SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION- OF PENNSYLVANIA Pnocnssor Pomme Hitherto in bacteriological .processes and in modificationsthereof, enzyme andbacteriophage have never been considered as an activeagent, as well as in certain processes involving the use of chemicals;air has been the sole factor in use for the uriiication of pol-v lutedWater, sewage and the like, whereas intenseagitation applied. to thebodyof such material with thesurface exposed to the atmosphere will produceresults as described heremafter. .Air has been supplied at the bottomand permitted toA bubbleup through .the sludge and mass. For thispurposeuse was sometimes made of expensive and specially prepared plates .whichsupported thev mass and were intended to permit the air to filterthrough them in a'manner that did not unduly disturb the mass :but theactivated sludge method of aeration is an exception,l

vvfor in the .design of the plants installed an inthe way that theypracticev the art, it requires the pumping of 1.50 cu. ft. of air to`nach gallon (0.13369 ein, fc. of liquider` 11.22.

timesas much air as liqui In any case'air introduced at the bottomandrising throughvr the mass has a tendency tocause flotation vand in thecase' of lates they become clogged and reduce the e ciency of theaeration. The

" application of air from the bottomhowever eifected presents otherdisadvantages. It disturbs thesediment permittin the new ,mate-l rial toreach the bottom and 'ecome covered "by the old material whiclrihasundergone complete .decay and which "opposes proper action in thenewmaterial. 1 It tends to force settled-matter undergoin decomposition torise tothe `sur f ace land't is Afloating' matter has a tendencythrough'decompositionto fall:

andA in its downward coursecom'ing in' contact with the' ascending air0p mentation. f Moreover air re eased at the bot-` f tom in follow 'thelines or 'paths of .least resistanceandfnot reach the portions volved asthe bacteriological reaction-con where it ij'samostneeded and too muchaera tion. i s 'wellflrnown that aeration is necessary tocaus'e'tlbacterlologlcal reaction 1n-l sume'svox gen or airfrom the water.lHitherto scum orming onthe surface not only pretion in 'onelocality-Prevents proper claricathe -mass troduced.

The principal object ofthe present inven; 5'

tion is to overcome the above mentioned, as

lwell as other wellunderstood defects and dis# advantages, and for theaccomplishmentlf. Y'

stated, comprises the improvement in the art this object the presentinvention, gener which consists of selective and controlled in'- tense-agltatlon in combination with the in- PoLLri'rnD WATER, 'sEwAen ran1.11m BY A cmikomoLoGrcAL-nncmmcAnPnocnss traduction of enzyme andbacteriophage continuously into the mass fromabove throughl `the mediumof fluid .jets forced into it and to produce elntriation andsedimentation by agglutination.

In the practi materialwhich 'could contain a portion o the muck or solidmatter, the product of the rocess which would have a tendency to a d itsWight to the suspended and floating matter and cause same to sink morerapidly, whereas, Y. 1 vspecial sewage solved organic matter `with butlittle material with large proportions'of disin suspension it would beadvantageous to returnthe clear water or iluidas it is about e and forcetp traverse the atmosphere and'tostrikc the surface and to ,enter themass of thebody n nf 'an invention and, as* water,-may be withdrawn thebod 'of a zo Y aj,

below the surface thereof, thus introducing enzyme and Ybac'terioplhageand air from the top and, if desired, t ese j etsmay be driven f wlthsuiicient forceA to reach the. sedimentat the' bottom ol. the body mixit in any required'A degree. desired,4

' the fluid jets may contain appropriate chemicals" and lts'jinotessential that they betaken from the body undertreatment. ASuch chemi--cals as lime, soda, etc.; to produce aneutrall and to a 'tateandl lusalkalinity condition in the treating'mass 1s favorable to thedevelopment vof-faerobic bacteria, their enzyme andbacteriophage, but

not considered, such chemicals as aci( l,'ja lu.A

in. special cases where the biological action is etc., may be used to anadvantage.

and vermin on top of the bod l Inconnection with the minum sulphate,etc., or chlorine gas or equal, By the present invention the agitationand aeration can be controlled accurately and the jets may be dischargedfrom an elevation above the surface at right angles or at aninclinationto the surface, or the jets can. be so con structed as torevolve in a circular motion on `a horizontal plane or on a, verticalplane,

thus assuring thorough agitation and circulafollowing descriptionreference may be made to the accompanying' drawings in which the samev"parts are designated by the same reference number and in which Figure1 is aA diagrammatic or schematic view generally illustrating apparatusthat f can .be used in the practice of the process, and $0 illustratingthe relative proportions of the ingredients after treatment.`

Figure 2 is a like view illustrating the action o f one jet, but showingloose material (as distinguished lfrom a coating) at the 't'op to a verygreatly exaggerated depth. f

Figure 3 illustrates the shape of a nozzle `tl-at'can be usedtodischarge the solutions in a' revolving circular movement on ahorizontal -plane.'.

i Figure 4 illustrates the sha e of a nozzle that can todischarge t esolutions in a revolving circular movement on a vertical plane.

In the lindicates the `receptacle in which a body of material, as sewae, is

collected.4 The pump 2 and intake 3 an discharge connections 4,including the nozzles 5,

are a means for king solutions from the receptacle 1 andvv oducingjetswhich aredischar throng the air and into the surface and mto the massofthe body.

The theory involved in the chemo-biologi# cal-mechanical features of myinvention are: The sedimentation andv decay through the agency'ofaerobic bacterio and other organisms including both prototrophic andmetatrophic types, which require air, oxygen, organic matter, etc., fortheir multiplication, lor existence. 'This group of bac teria is moredesirable inasmuch as, theycause the reduction -of lnitrates in 'the'product whic `would be available for. fertilizer.

Their multiplication is best cultivated by agitation as described, Theirfeeding upon organic matter may be expressed `as consumingl by oxidationthe total organic contents, thus producing a complete sewa e disposalsystem within itself, eliminatin t e sprinkling filter addition,whereas, t e anaerobic group of bacteria thrives in the absence of airand agitation.

-They produce only a partial decom ositionv of the organic contents,consuming t e ,oxy-A 'gen held in combinationwith organicA -matter, thusbreaking down the solids-into simpler bodies, some of which aredissolvedv lin thel liquid and others liberated in the form of gas.-

The black liquid eluent produced b such),-

bacteria is minus oxygen plus dissolve gases, etc., must be retreated byaeration, ina mecha-nica] design designated as a sprinklin filter,thereby, permittinglthe first mentionsl group of bacteria to linis thedecomposition of organic matter, in order to prevent a nui-v sance. Themultiplication of the anaerobic group of bacteria vis revented byagitation andaeration such as escribed, furthermore, the action of whenapplied with air and agitation to untreated incoming sewage produces/acatalytic action of great intensity; furthermore, .the

bacteriophagic action reaches its hi hest eili- .ciency for the actionis accelerated. ybrlngbacteria produces an enzyme and I ing about athorough-mixing, stirring and' breaking up of the-bacteria llora andvsolid' matter.

The result `of this process is oxidation of the organic matter,rapidsedimentation of oxidized suspended matter, clarification by,v

elutriation and sedimentaion and a-large r'e duction in the total countf bacteria through the rocess of bacteriophagia, thus obtaining, a `cemo-biologicaLmechanical action, pro` ducing` a heavy compact flock thatwill settle more rapidl than the light loose flock that is produced yother methods wherein the air is released under plates bottom of themass. f

or `otherwise at thel It will be obvious mams@ skilled in' the' artto'which theinvention relates that modii` cations may be made in detailsof procedure` and in more matters of form without de arts'y ing fromthe' spirit of the invention which is" may require. I claim:

1. In the art of sewa and like materials the improvementA whic consistsin collecting a body of the material and discharging air bearin jets un#derconsiderable pressure'of such uid con-' teriopha e, the product oftheprocess, down# wardly t rough the atmosphere onto the top surface ofthe bod penetrating a considerable distance into t e mass under the topsurface thereof. v f 2. In the art of purifying polluted wa sewageandlike materials the improvelii'e'n not limited as to those matters orotherwise than as the appended claims and the prior art c *nstainingprecipitated matter, enzyme and bacp' i which consists in collecting a.body cfffthe'ep-N0 mason material with its surface exposed to theatsewage and like materials the' improvement which consists incollecting a body of the material with its surface ex d to theatmosphere and discharging )ets under condistance lunder the surfacethereof.

consists in introducing enzyme and siderable pressure of such liuidcontaining enzyme and bacteriophage, the product of the process, andchemicals, downwardly from above and vthrough the atmosphere into theliquid being tre'ated so that it penetrates a considerable distance intothe body of such liquids. y

4. In the chemo-biological-mechanical purification processtheimprovement which consists in introducing preci itat'ed ,matter enzymeand bacteriophage e product oi the process, with air from a ove bydischarging jets .of fluid under considerable pressure through theatmosphere into -the mass being treated so that it penetrates aconsiderable Y 5. In the chemo biologicalmechanical purification processthe improvement which bacteriophage in large4 quantities, the product ofthe process, with 'air from above by discharging )ets of such fluidunder considerable ressure downwardly through thev atmosp ere pherereturninga portion of the clear,

into the body of the material being Vtreated. so that it penetrates tothe muck at lthe bottom thereo. r m

6. In vthe chemo -biological -mechanical `purification process theimprovement which consists in introducing enzyme and bacteriophage, theproduct of the process, with air from above by discharging jets of suchiiuid under considerable pressure continuously downwardly through theatmosphere into the body of the material being treated so that'itpenetrates a considerable distance'to bring about elutriation,agglutination and bacteriophagia. 7 lIn the art of purifying pollutedwater, sewage and like materials, the improvement -which consists in'collecting a body of .the material and returninga portion of the clearwateror liquid as it is about to leave the process by 'driving airbearing jets of such iuid under considerable' ressure downwardly ontothe top surface oft e body 'and into the mass of the bodyforaconsiderable distance past thetopsuracethereof.- f

A 8. In he art'ofpurifying-polluted water,

sewage and like materials, the im rovement materialwith its surfaceexposed t the atmos-Y whighgconsists in collecting a. bo y of the wateror liquid as itis about to leave the proc'-A f ess by squirting suchfluid under considerable pressure downwardly from 'above -andthrough theatmosphere and into the mass of the body below the surface thereof sothat it penetrates a considerable distance to produce elutriation.

l9. In the art of purifying polluted water,v sewage and like `material,'the improvement which consists in collecting a body of the `materialwith its surface exposed to the at-v mosphere and returning a portion ofthe clear water.or li uid as it is about to leave the process bysquirting such iuid undervconsiderable pressure containing addedchemicals downwardly vfrom above and through the atmosphere and into themass of the body below the surface thereof, so that it enetrates aconsiderable distance into the boI y thereof.

10. In 'the chemo biologicalmechanical purification process, theimprovement which consists in introducing large quantities of enyme andbacteriophage, the product of the process, with air from above bydischarging jets ofv f iuid extracted from. the process at about thepoint of the longest detention period under considerable pressurethrough thev atmosphere so that it penetrates a` considere abledistancev past the. surface there,'into the body of the material beingtreated.

' 11. In the chemo -bi logical -mechamcal puriiicationprocess, theimprovement which consists in introducing ,enzyme bacteriophage and muckthe rouct of the process with air from a ove y ischargin jets of Huidextracted from the process at a out the point of the longestdetentionperiod underconsiderable pressure downwardly through theatmosphere into the body of the material being treated to the muck atthe bottom thereof, to roduce elutriation and agglutination.

12. iii the chemo biologicalmechanical purification process2 consists inintroducm enzyme and bacteriophage, the product o the process with' airfrom above by discharging jets oi fluid eX- tracted :from-the process atabout the point of the longest detentionperiod under consid-- 'erablepressure downwardly through the at mosphere into the body of thematerial being treated penetrating for a Yconsiderable distance to bringabout the destruction ofthe bacteria.

13. Inthe art of 'puriying'lpolluted water, sewage and like materia s, te improvement which consists in collecting a bodyof the mai-.

containin enzyme and bacteriophage and a portion o? the muck the productof the process continuously un er considerable ressure downwardlyontothe top surface of t e body and into the mass penetrating for aconsidtopsurface thereof.

114. v In the art of puri terial and driving 'air bearinl )ets of iiuidico the improvement which erable distance'into the body and the lgpolliited water,- iao sewa e and like materials, the improvement whicconsists in collecting a body ofthe mav terial with its surface 'exposedto the atmosphere and squirting fluid containing'enzyme andbacteriophage and a portion of the solid matter, the product of theprocess, downwardly under considerable pressure from above and throughthe atmosphere and intoV the mass of the bod for a considerable-d is--tance below the sur ace thereof. "l

-15. In the art of purif in polluted water, v

l'sewage and like materi s, t e improvement consists in introducing aportion of the muck, the product of the process, with air fromj above'bydischarging jets of suclrfluid under considerable pressure downwardlythrou h the atmosphere into the body of the material beiolg treated fora considerable'distance to -pr uce elutriation andagglutination. f1 Y17. In the chemo -biological mechanical purification process2 thelimprovement which consistsjin introducm enzyme'and bacteriopha e and-aportion o the muck the roduct of t e process, with air from above ydischarging jets of such fluidV under` considerable phere into the bodas 'it is about ,to lea-ve pressure downwardly through the`atmosytreated to the muc at the bottom thereo and to produceelutriation.. V v 18.,I n the chemobiological-mechanica purificationprocess2 the improvement which -ccn'sists'fin introducm venayme andbacterioa portion o the muckhe product.

elle? of t e process with air from'a ve by discharging jets offsuchfluid under considerable 'pressure downwardly through the atmosphereinto'the body lofthematerial being fr treated so' that -itnpenetratesfora considerable distance to causebacteriophagia and to duce elutriationand agglutination. 19. YIn the art of pui'lf i sewa `and like.materials, it whic vconsists in collecting a body of the material andyreturning atgrtion of thejliquid "recess by" drivin air bearing' jetsvof 'such uid under considg- PTO' verable lpressure in acircaxlarmovement onto vthe top surfacevof the', so that itjpenetrates for aconsiderablevdistance into the iili'lass gf, the `body and pastf'the'top surface 120. 1ntht-iaf Is'u'rifying penned wier,

5= sewage 'and like materials, the improvement ofthe material beinngxpolluted water, e improvement which consists in collecting'a ofthe-Ima.. terial with its surface exposed tothe atmosphere and returninga portion' of the liquid as itis about to-leave the process by squirtingsuch -iluid under considerable pressure in a circular movement fromabove and throu h the atmosphere and-'into the mass of the y so that itpenetrates a considerable distance below the surface thereof.-

.21. In the .art of purifgng polluted wat/er, sewa e andlike `materiathe improvement whic consists in collecting a body of the ma-l terialwith its surface expod to the atmosphere and returning a portion-of theliquid as 1t is about toleavetheprocess by squirting such fluidcontaining added chemicals under considerable pressure ina c' ularmovement from above and-through the atmos here and into the mass so thatit penetrates or `a considerable distance vinto the body below the'vVsurfacethereof.v

22. In vthe chemo biologicalmechanical purification prccess,.1theimprovementwhichv consists -in introducing enzyme,bacteriophage and muck, the product ofthe process with air from Iaboveby dischargin' .jets o fluid extracted from the process 'at o throughthe; atmosphere into. the body of the material being treated sothit itpenetrates forfa considerable intothe bodyfof such material. 'Y ,f A123.' In the chemo lbiological mechanical purification process, theimprovement which llt the". f pointcf the longe'st'detention periodunder ,considerable pressurejn a circular movement consists inintrodncln enzyme and bacterie-v phage the 'producto the-process withairl discharging jets. of fluid lex-l e process atabcut the point 'offrom above b tracted from tlx the longest detention period underconsiderable-'pressure revolving in a 'circular move# ment t of thematerial being Vtreated so thatit pene. trates to the muck at the bottomthereof. v

24. Inl the chemo biological mechanical purification process, theimprovementwhich rough-the atmosphere into the body"` consists inintroducin'genzyme and bacterioom the process 'at 'about the point of'the longest detention period in combination vwith trates aconsiderab e'distance into such mateelutriation and agglutination.' j

" 25.1' In `the chemo -bi l mechanical rial to cause -bacteriophagili.end .to produce; t

. purification .the 4i l'npfovement which consists in introducingf,enzymf V e,` bacterio phage and precipitated matter, g the'product' -ofthe process, with air from above bydischarging jets of; 'fluid extractedfrom-the {process at boutfthe point of the longest de`A 1 phage'bydischaggingvjets--ofauid 'extracted 115 'ha portion 'of' the"'muck, theproduct of the p-procce'ss vwith air 'from'above revolving in .afcircular movement under considerable 'ressure through theatmosphere'intothe of the n'iaterial-` bei ljtrep'gted so that tfpenetention periodunder considerable lpressure downwardly revolving in a circular movementthrough the atmosphere into the body of A the material being treated sothat it penetrates to the muck at the bottom thereof.

26. In the chemo biological mechanical purification process2 theimprovement which consists in introducing enzyme and bacteriophage bydischargingjets under considerable pressure of fiuid extracted from theprocess at about the point of the longest detention period incombination with a portion of the muck, the product of the process, withair from above yrevolving in a circular movement through the atmosphereinto the body of the material "being treated so that it penetrates for aa considerable distance into the material to cause bacteriophagia' andto .produce elutriation and sedimentation by agglutination.

2ol 27. In the chemo biologicalmechanical purification process forsewage and like materials, the improvement which consists in col#lecting a body of the material and vdischarging jets-of such fluidextracted from the proc@ I "z5 ess under considerable pressuredownwardly A l through the atmosphere into the liquid being y treated sothat it penetrates a considerable distance into the body of such liquidto'produce violent a itation,raeration, circulation',

- elutriation, an sedimentation by agglutination.

EDWARD F. HARRISON.

